Tips for Sellers

Properly and fully complete all required disclosure forms. Sellers are often hesitant to disclose negative information about their homes. We will sit down with you to help you complete the disclosure forms—in many cases before the house ever hits the MLS. If you get all of that taken care of before the property goes on the market, it looks so good when you say all disclosures are in. You may not want to do that, but it makes the transaction much smoother and easier.

Make sure the house is in "tip-top" condition to maximize the selling price. Sellers don't have to spend a lot of money to prepare their homes. Make sure the home is sparkling clean and uncluttered. Carpets should be cleaned, walls should be freshly painted, and the lawn should be nicely manicured. First impressions are crucial. Buyers usually know if they like the house within 30 seconds after walking through the front door.

Don't overprice the house. In a strong sellers' market, it's tempting to add a premium to the asking price. A lower price often communicates a type of urgency or enthusiasm about a home.

Vacate the house for showings. Otherwise, buyers might feel as if they are intruding. They might also find it difficult to imagine the house as their own. Sellers also can get in the way. They might talk so much that the buyer can't concentrate on looking at the home. Or, even worse, we have seen situations where sellers told prospective buyers that they're not flexible on the price and actually scared them off.

Have necessary repairs performed by licensed professionals. Sellers should have competent professionals handle all agreed-upon repairs and should document them with detailed receipts. Don't get Uncle Bob to come in with duct tape and expect that to be a satisfactory repair. The little bit of money spent for a professional will save a lot of aggravation at the final walk-through.